Normal or Supernatural – 13

 Normal or Supernatural – 13

Subject – Time for the Church to Have Real Power

by Rick Welborne

Acts 19:11-20 (NKJV)
¹¹  Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
¹²  so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
¹³  Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."
¹⁴  Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
¹⁵  And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"
¹⁶  Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
¹⁷  This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
¹⁸  And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
¹⁹  Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
²⁰  So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

--The first seven verses of this chapter discuss how real Holy Spirit was to believers. Many today try to say the Day of Pentecost was just for that day, thus, He is not for today. Really?

--I looked up the timeline from Pentecost to Paul going to Ephesus in this chapter and it is 24 years later. Did you receive Holy Spirit when you believed? Nope, never heard of Him.

--Paul lays his hands on them and they are baptized with Holy Spirit. They speak in tongues and prophesy. 

--The Book of Acts shows us over and over again how people go from normal to supernatural and how that impacts the Kingdom of God…i.e. people get saved and transformed by the power of God. 

--The modern church has evolved into something that really does not look like what church did in the beginning. Frank Bartleman believes the decline started in the 3^rd Century. 

--When the church started elevating man and diminishing God and His power, the church began to drift toward secular humanism and man’s hierarchal control of the church. 

--Again man became the focus of the church and because of that the church became political and corrupt with much abuse toward the people they should have been loving and ministering to. 

--It became about words and wisdom of man instead of the demonstration of the power of God being displayed in people’s lives showing them the way to God. Like in the Book of Acts. Listen to Paul:

 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
²  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
³  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
⁴  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
⁵  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 

--Today we are constantly encouraged to listen to these preachers or speakers who are excellent speakers slinging out sermons that make us ooh and ah. We truly get moved emotionally. Temporarily. 

--In my quest for revival I have a rule for myself and for my own spiritual growth…If I hear any hint of pride, arrogance, me, I, with it being all about them, I do not listen. Don’t want that spirit. We should reflect God.

--So what are you looking for, Pastor Rick? Paul sums it up so well in verses 4 and 5:

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NKJV)
⁴  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
⁵  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 

--We see the what and the why. The what that is needed is a demonstration of Holy Spirit and power and the why is so men’s faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 

--If we will see a great sweeping revival with lives being totally transformed it will happen because we have sought God to the point that He begins to demonstrate Holy Spirit and power. 

--We must hunger for such a move of Holy Spirit that we see the sick healed, the bound set free, and the lost being saved in mass. Amen!

--Right now there are people we love and people we call brothers and sisters in the Lord who need a miracle. They need a demonstration of God’s power not more empty words.

1. Unusual Miracles.

Acts 19:11-12 (NKJV)
¹¹  Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
¹²  so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 

--Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul’s body brought healing. That’s unusual. People brought out sick people so that Peter’s shadow might fall on them. The implication was they were healed. Unusual. 

--Both of these situations point out something that is so important. People were healed, not because Peter and Paul made a big show, but because it was the power of God demonstrating. 

--Peter was just walking by and Paul was not even physically present when the people were healed. It was about God showing up because people were seeking Him and having faith.

--I am going to say something that may offend a few people but I am simply being biblical. We have come to believe that if we simply pray in Jesus Name or add “In the Name of Jesus” something has to happen.

--People who do not even live faithfully for God believe they can just randomly call on Jesus Name believing their prayers will be answered. His name was never intended to be a magic formula.

--The seven sons of Sceva learned a very powerful lesson when it came to using Jesus Name and not having neither relationship or power with Him. 

Acts 19:13-14 (NKJV)
¹³  Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."
¹⁴  Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 

--They tried to cast out demons by the Jesus whom Paul preaches. Think about how ridiculous that is. On the other hand, people try to do the same thing today.

--People say…My mom and dad were faithful to God. They prayed for me every day. They were always in church, always helping others, and always trusted Jesus. I am ok because of mom and dad. Really?

--The seven sons of Sceva found out that there would be no unusual miracles done without a personal and powerful relationship with Jesus Christ. They got their rear ends kicked.

--So many people are blaming God for not showing in their lives when they needed a miracle. They have not served Him or been faithful to Him but now they are praying in Jesus Name. Stop it!

--Let’s bring it closer to home. Pastor, we want to see miracles, we want to see revival, and we want Jesus showing up in power. Do you believe unusual miracles will happen without earnestly seeking God?

--Words are cheap. We want a move of God and miracles that cost us nothing. Will not happen.

2. Evil spirits know.

Acts 19:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵  And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" 

--Of course, we do not want to attribute more power to demons than what they have but this evil spirit knew that these seven sons of Sceva did not have the goods. 

--Pastor Rick, do demons know what I am thinking? No, but they don’t have to, they can just watch what you are doing and know how to tempt you.

--If you look at porn, don’t say the devil knows my weakness and how to make me fall. Congratulations, you showed him what your flesh wanted and now you are in bondage.

--So powerful what the demon said, Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you? Let me ask you today, who are you? Who are you in God’s Kingdom?

--You can say you want revival and you want unusual miracles to happen but are you going after God with all your heart, are you living in a constant state of repentance, and are you truly filled with Holy Spirit?

--Evil spirits know if you are truly living 2 Chronicles 7:14 or not. Revival will come no other way.

2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (NKJV)
¹³  When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
¹⁴  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
¹⁵  Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

--The seven sons of Sceva were embarrassed, beaten, and the greatest shame of all, they were overpowered. Who are you? Demons know! You shall receive power when Holy Spirit comes upon you.

3. True repentance. 

--We love what we consider revival. We love to be in exciting services where the worship has us dancing and people laying around like cord-wood. 

--Modern day revivals seem to leave out what is, according to the Word of God, is a key ingredient. Unless there is a turning from our wicked ways, no lasting change will come.

--Many times when a ministry falls and embarrassment comes, the church simply holds its head down in shame and goes into hiding. Not so here in Ephesus. The true gospel overshadowed the fake. 

Acts 19:17-20 (NKJV)
¹⁷  This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
¹⁸  And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
¹⁹  Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
²⁰  So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

--People heard that the evil spirit acknowledged the true Jesus and Paul and great fear fell in the area. God, do it again! Jesus was magnified!

--People came confessing their sins. This is revival! Then, they brought the things in their homes that were offensive to God and the gospel. Get rid of the junk in your house that opens the door to sin.

--Some of you may need to get rid of Net-Flix, movies, access to God cursing movies, and even alcohol. There is a reason alcohol has been called spirits for years. Pastor, what will we do with our time?

--Pray, seek God, read your Bible, or books about revival. The people of Ephesus brought junk that was valued at 50,000 pieces of silver. One piece was a day’s wage. Millions of dollars. They burned it. They burned it!

--So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. Revival! Repentance leads to revival!

Psalm 85:4-7 (NKJV)
⁴  Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease.
⁵  Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
⁶  Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
⁷  Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation.